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The Town with Matthew Belloni

The Ringer
Netflix
Hollywood
Disney
Paramount
Youtube
Warner Bros. Discovery
Streaming Services
HBO Max
Warner Bros.
Taylor Swift
David Ellison
NFL
Marvel
IMAX
Streaming Wars
Donald Trump
Artificial Intelligence
Sony Pictures
Comcast
Box Office

Puck founding partner Matthew Belloni takes you inside Hollywood, using exclusive reporting and insight to explain the backstories on everything from Marvel movies to streaming wars. Multiple times each week, Matt is joined by major executives, dealmakers, and journalists, to discuss what is getting made and why, who is winning and losing, and what people in show business are actually talking abou... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes680Founded5 years ago
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Society & Culture

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Latest Episodes

Live from Bloomberg’s Screentime event in Hollywood, Matt and Lucas Shaw make the case to buy or sell various entities across the entertainment industry, including Johnny Depp, Curry Barker, Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks Animation, Alex Cooper, MrBeas... more

Matt is joined by Saul Goldberg, producer, investor, and former agent, to discuss how the creator economy has taken on a new importance in Hollywood, and how traditional entertainment players are making the transition over to director to consumer, if... more

YouTube

Matt is joined by Ari Emanuel—executive chair and CEO of TKO, executive chair of WME Group, and founder and principal investor of Mari—to discuss his new memoir, 'Roll the Calls'; why he didn’t mention CAA’s Bryan Lourd in the book; his relationship ... more

YouTube

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to look ahead at what WarnerMount will look like now that the merger is likely to go through. They discuss the biggest questions surrounding the new megacompany, including who will run their multiple movie stu... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Saul Goldberg
Founder of Blossom, former CIA agent
Blossom
Episode: Why Every Agency Wants a Piece of the Creator Economy
Ari Emanuel
CEO and executive chair of TKO Group; owner of UFC; founder of Mari
TKO Group / WME / Mari
Episode: The Ari Emanuel Experience
Laura Friedman
Congresswoman representing Burbank, Glendale, West Hollywood, LA area; former movie producer
U.S. House of Representatives
Episode: Dissecting the Bill That Could Transform Hollywood, With Its Co-Author
Zach Baron
Senior Special Projects Editor at GQ, celebrity profiler
GQ
Episode: Tom Cruise and the New Age of Celebrity Profiles
Matthew Greenfield
Independent/ specialty film executive, long-time Searchlight producer
Searchlight Pictures
Episode: How to Run a Specialty Studio in 2026, with Searchlight President
Oliver Berben
CEO of Constantin Film, executive producer of the new Resident Evil movie
Constantin Film
Episode: ‘Resident Evil’ and the Tightrope of Relaunching Old IP
Katie Pryor
Head of Film USA, National Film Commission
Film USA
Episode: Did Donald Trump Just Save Filmmaking in America?
Tony Armer
Head of Film USA, National Film Commission
Film USA
Episode: Did Donald Trump Just Save Filmmaking in America?
David Rosenthal
Co-host and founder of The Acquired Podcast
Acquired Podcast
Episode: Disney's Biggest Swings and Misses, Plus Iger vs. Eisner—With the Acquired Guys

Host

Matt Belloni
Host of the show; known for insider industry reporting and discussion of Hollywood headlines, streaming wars, and dealmaking.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 3.7k ratings
  • I listen to this to hear "the other side" from someone who thinks the height of cinema is anything that stars Tom Cruise and who will always support the suits over the creatives. Insightful into that kind of pysche, and a depressing reminder that these are the public perceptions the people who actually make the movies (not just distribute because they own all the resources) are dealing with. (The flirtation with right-wing politics in recent episodes has gotten downright depressing.)

    Podcast Addict
    2
    ElysiaCB
    a month ago
  • I’m An American expat in Tokyo and I never miss The Town!

    Thanks for the exuberant banter! One reviewer said Matt yells too much. I disagree. I think that high-spirited tone works well for this pod and this host.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rayabird
    United Statesa month ago
  • Stop Yelling!

    I appreciate the journalism but for the love of god, please stop yelling directly into our ears.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Turnaroundbrighteyes
    United States2 months ago
  • Host is a mess

    He just yells the entire time, cuts everyone off, and is under the impression he’s the smartest person on this show, which is not the case. Why do people like this have shows with guests? It’s baffling.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    nbsfmc
    United States2 months ago
  • Great Show, Ads Glitch

    Love the show, love the guests. Matt knows how to talk to people in a way that is frank, but not aggressive, and can often get his guests to match the candor and really get into the issues people in the industry care about. I don’t know what the problem is with the ads, but they often seem to come out of nowhere during an interview and sometimes one ad will get cut off by another. It’s odd and disorienting. I’m sure this is a fixable issue!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    WorkingUPM
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests and topics are praised for depth and relevancy to current industry shifts.
Some reviews call out host interruptions but acknowledge the breadth of guest expertise.
The show is seen as a strong source for understanding streaming economics and IP strategy.
Listeners appreciate the insider access and data-driven context behind big media moves.
Critics note the host can be polarizing but valuable for industry nuggets and candid debate on deals.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Every Agency Wants a Piece of the Creator Economy
Q: Can you describe how the creator economy is changing the business of talent agents?
Agencies have shifted from gatekeeping to actively building and owning creator businesses, expanding revenue beyond brand deals into IP ownership, equity stakes, and broader media ventures, while working to diversify creators' income streams beyond the YouTube algorithm.
Jeffrey Katzenberg on Why Hollywood Must Embrace AI
Q: Why are you leaning into AI now, and what is your plan to bridge Silicon Valley and Hollywood?
I want to demonstrate what AI for creativity means by building tools and workflows that empower storytellers, ensuring copyright, credit, and compensation are protected, and creating a set of state-of-the-art tools that can be used by artists across the spectrum.
2026 Emmys Instant Reactions: Is Apple Really the New HBO? What Happened to Netflix?
Q: Lucas, does this Emmys night change anything for the meetings around town and how Apple will operate going forward?
Lucas suggests that the Emmys night underscores Apple's growing authority and ease in attracting top talent, while reinforcing that the company can finance and back ambitious projects without relying solely on mega stars, which should smooth future meetings.
How to Run a Specialty Studio in 2026, with Searchlight President
Q: Is theatrical release still the priority for Searchlight, and how does streaming fit into the strategy?
Theatrical release remains the priority as the primary way to create the event and build audience energy, with streaming serving as a complementary home after a theatrical launch. They acknowledge the evolving industry but prefer a model where the theatrical experience drives momentum for long-tail streaming and revivals.
How to Run a Specialty Studio in 2026, with Searchlight President
Q: What competitive dynamics do you face from peers like A24, Focus, Neon, and others, and how do you position Searchlight?
Competition exists across multiple fronts, but the emphasis is on finding the right fit for each film and maintaining a worldwide reach with a distinctive, filmmaker-centric approach. They avoid relying on reputations or 'beating' competitors and instead focus on unique project alignment and collaborative production.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Town

What is The Town about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A fast-paced industry show that pulls back the curtain on Hollywood's business side, from streaming economics and mergers to IP strategy and creator deals. It frequently features top analysts, journalists, and dealmakers who dissect what studios are betting on, how licensing and distribution evolve, and where the next big bets are likely to come from. Noteworthy is the host's penchant for insider context, plus a roundtable feel that blends data-driven analysis with candid industry perspectives, making it useful for listeners who want to understand the why behind big media moves and what it could mean for brands, platforms, and creators.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Town?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Town. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Town and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Town get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Town?

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How many subscribers and views does The Town have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Town has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Town?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Town:

1. The Big Picture
2. The Watch
3. The Business
4. Ankler Agenda
5. The Rewatchables

How many episodes of The Town are there?

The Town launched 5 years ago and published 680 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Town?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Town?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Town from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The Town?

Recent guests on The Town include:

1. Saul Goldberg
2. Ari Emanuel
3. Laura Friedman
4. Zach Baron
5. Matthew Greenfield
6. Oliver Berben
7. Katie Pryor
8. Tony Armer

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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